Most people should expect to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight when using Ozempic for weight loss.
For example, doctors may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss in adults with either of the following: Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Overweight, defined as a BMI of 27 or greater, and at least one health condition related to weight.
Lowering the dose may help improve tolerance. Ozempic leads to an average weight loss of 3-7% of total body weight when used for over a year along with lifestyle changes. Some people may lose more weight, some less.
A dose of 0.5 to 1 mg per week (double the maximum approved diabetes dose) seems to provide the maximum weight loss benefits for many people using Ozempic off-label.
Everybody reacts differently to medication, and the weight loss you experience on Ozempic may differ from someone else's. It can also be due to other factors that help or hinder weight loss progress, such as your diet, activity levels, and other reasons we'll get into below.
A study found that at the highest dose of Wegovy (2.4 mg), patients lost on average 15% of their total body weight after 1 year. In patients with diabetes, one study showed that taking Ozempic at the highest dose of 2 mg led to on average ~15 lbs (6.9 kg) weight loss after 40 weeks.
In one study of almost 2,000 overweight or obese adults without diabetes, people taking that dose of semaglutide lost an average of 34 pounds in less than 16 weeks, compared to 6 pounds among those receiving a placebo, NBC News reported.
Once you use Ozempic, you should experience increased satiety, which helps your body to gradually adjust and begin to lose weight. In general, most people lose a minimum of 5% of their starting weight when they use Ozempic.
How much weight will I lose with Ozempic? About a third of people who take Ozempic for weight loss will lose 10% or more of their body weight. Most people should expect to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight when using Ozempic for weight loss.
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
It can also lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss. But because of how it works, some people taking Ozempic lose weight as a side effect. If you don't have diabetes, taking Ozempic for weight loss is considered an off-label use.
How to Get Ozempic in Australia. Ozempic is a highly sought after drug for managing diabetes and weight management, but it is important to know that it is prescription only. In Australia, this means you will need to speak with your doctor and have a prescription written up before you can start taking Ozempic.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
It is not a medication for people who do not have diabetes or are at risk of type 2 diabetes.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.
Ozempic and its sister medication, Wegovy — approved for weight loss for people who are obese or overweight with weight-related medical conditions — are considered long-term or lifelong treatments.
Study 2: Patients using the Ozempic 1 mg dose lost on average 12 lb (5.5 kg), and those using the 2 mg dose lost 14 lb (6.3 kg).
People eat less when they take Ozempic because semaglutide slows the digestion, keeping food in the stomach longer and increasing feelings of fullness, and because it triggers changes in the brain that decrease hunger and blunt the feelings of satisfaction that can accompany eating, the FDA notes.
It can boost your metabolism, lower your cholesterol, and improve hormone levels related to obesity. This substance may also help lower your blood sugar by reducing how much carbs your body absorbs.